Alabama

Mayor Sandy Stimpson addresses members of the media on ideas to revitalize Mobile's waterfront on Monday, March 10, 2014, following a three-day convention for mayors across the country in San Antonio. (Theresa Seiger/tseiger@al.com)

"If we can't walk in downtown, (efforts to revitalize the area are) not going to work," said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Following a three-day, mayors only
meeting in Texas, Mayor Sandy Stimpson has concluded that a major key to
developing Mobile's waterfront area lies in making Water Street walkable and
easier to navigate, he said on Monday.

The comments were made after Stimpson attended the Mayors'
Institute on City Design in San Antonio from March 5 through March 7, an annual
gathering of mayors and urban planning experts from across the country.

Mayors from places as far flung as Santa Rosa, Calif., and
Somerville, Mass., were asked to present an issue in their cities for the group
to consider.

Stimpson's presentation focused on one of the Port City's
most frustrating dilemmas: the underutilization of multiple waterfront
properties, including the Alabama Cruise Terminal.

"What they saw was the lack of connectivity between all
of our venues -- the lack of signage -- probably the biggest problem is Water
Street," Stimpson said. "The problem with Water Street (is) you have a
six lane major thoroughfare that does not have the perception of safe crossings
to get pedestrians across."

He said the solution may include the closure of lanes and would
have to include a solution for bicyclists looking to get around the waterfront
area. To help determine what's needed, Stimpson extended an invitation to one
of the experts at the conference, Mukul Malhotra.

Malhotra, principal and director of urban design for the San
Francisco-based MIG, has more than 15 years of experience in urban design,
planning and architecture, according to a biography provided to participants at
the Mayors' Institute on City Design. He has worked on urban redevelopment
projects in across the nation in eight states.

"If we can't walk in downtown, (efforts to revitalize the area are) not going to
work," Stimpson said. "A real study needs to be done, of what can be
done to make Water Street crossable."

Stimpson said coming up with solutions in the near future
would be particularly beneficial as the Alabama Department of Transportation
works to redevelop the Interstate 10 corridor in downtown. The project is
expected to go out for bids later in 2014, he said.

"The real strengths that we have really have to do with
the assets that we have downtown," Stimpson said, listing a number of attractions
including Fort Conde, the Convention Center and the soon-to-open GulfQuest
National Maritime Museum. "Just add them all up... We have over $100 million
worth of assets that we feel disconnected from. We've got to do something."

He also brainstormed ideas for utilizing the Alabama Cruise
Terminal, which has been without a cruise ship since 2011. He said the group
didn't have time to look deeply into specific plans, although he imagined the
space could potentially be used as parking for the GulfQuest museum with some
indoor space adjusted to fit a restaurant.

"(We have to) start using it for more than what it's
being used for today," he said, adding that efforts to bring more visitors
to Cooper Riverside Park and the Mobile Convention Center are also in the
works.

"The city and the management -- we just need to say,
there's more things that we can do with the Convention Center than are
currently being done," Stimpson said. "Whether it's more conventions...
does there need to be a restaurant in it? Does there need to be something else
that brings people to it?"